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Parliament to undertake review of the Copyright Act

News Release

Copyright framework supports creativity and innovation; review will ensure it remains current in fast-paced digital world

December 14, 2017 – Ottawa

Following the adoption of a motion put forward in Parliament, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, were pleased to see that Parliament will undertake a review of Canada’s Copyright Act.

In today’s fast-paced creative economy, it is critical for Canada to maintain a comprehensive copyright framework, one in which Canadian creators get fairly compensated for their work, users benefit from great choices and business can thrive. The Act creates a healthy environment facilitating investments, job creation and opportunities for all Canadians.

A well-functioning copyright framework should enable Canada’s creators to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by digital technology, provide a supportive environment for business and investment, and position creators for success in a competitive marketplace. This framework should also make it easy for users to discover, access and use a variety of quality content, as well as promote our culture and heritage.

The review will provide parliamentarians with an opportunity to examine the legislative framework in support of these objectives.

Quotes

“In order to thrive in the digital economy, we need to support both creators and users of copyrighted content by providing them with a predictable, transparent and effective legal environment. I am looking forward to the review as it provides an opportunity to ensurethat Canada’s current copyright framework effectively supports creativity and innovation.”– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

“Our government is committed to helping Canadian creators succeed and having great content easily discovered and enjoyed in Canada and abroad. This requires a copyright framework that works well in the context of our fast-paced digital world and provides creators with opportunities to get fair value for their work. We thank parliamentarians in advance for their work in reviewing the Copyright Act to ensure that it supports Canada’s world-class innovation and creativity.”– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Quick Facts

Copyright is a major driver of the Canadian economy, with core copyright-based industries representing an estimated contribution of $50 billion to the GDP and accounting for 483,000 jobs in 2015.

To ensure timely reform in response to issues that were recently reviewed by Parliament, the Government held targeted public consultations on the Copyright Board of Canada in August and September 2017. It received nearly 60 submissions, which are now available online.

Reform measures are anticipated over the course of the next year to enable creators to get paid properly and on time and to seize new business opportunities in today’s fast-paced economic environment.